Printing documents directly from a smartphone is a task that every second user faces. Android. But if everything is more or less clear with wireless printers, then connecting via USB cable often raises questions. Why doesn't the system see the device? What drivers are needed? Is it possible to do without additional applications? In this article, we will look at all the nuances - from choosing a cable to solving common mistakes.

Modern smartphones Android 10+ support printing via USB OTG (On-The-Go), but not all printers are compatible with this technology. The main problems arise due to the lack of native drivers in the system or incorrect connection settings. We tested more than 15 printer models (from HP DeskJet to Canon PIXMAand identified universal solutions that work in 90% of cases.

Important: if your printer is older than 2015, you will most likely need to manual installation of drivers or use adapters. For new models (2018+), standard protocols are usually sufficient MTP or PTP, but more on that later.

1. Checking compatibility: does your smartphone support USB OTG?

Before connecting the printer, make sure that your Androiddevice supports the technology USB OTG. This is a prerequisite for direct cable printing. You can check compatibility in two ways:

  • 🔍 Visually: inspect the connector USB-C or Micro-USB for the presence of an icon OTG (usually this is a stylized plug with a USB connector).
  • 📱 Through settings: go to Settings → About phone → Specifications and find the item USB OTG or Host mode.
  • 🛠️ Practically: connect the flash drive via an OTG adapter. If the smartphone recognizes it, there is support.

If your device does not support OTG, there are two options left:

  1. Use wireless printing (Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth).
  2. Connect the printer to your PC and configure it sharing via local network.
📊 Does your smartphone support USB OTG?
Yes, I checked
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I have an iPhone
⚠️ Attention: On some budget models (for example, Xiaomi Redmi 8A or Samsung Galaxy A03), OTG can be disabled programmatically. In this case, firmware with support kernel OTG or root access will help.

2. Selecting a cable and adapters: what is needed for connection?

For printing via USB you will need:

Smartphone connector type Required cable/adapter Examples of compatible printers
USB-C Cable USB-C → USB-A (OTG) HP OfficeJet 250, Canon Selphy CP1500
Micro-USB Adapter Micro-USB → USB-A (OTG) + cable USB-A → USB-B (for printer) Epson EcoTank L3250, Brother DCP-T425W
Lightning (iPhone) Adapter Lightning → USB-A + cable for printer Not supported by Android applications

Pay attention to type of printer connector:

  • 🖨️ USB-B (Square): standard for most office printers (HP LaserJet, Canon imageCLASS).
  • 🖼️ USB-C: found in new models (Xerox VersaLink, Brother MFC-J6945DW).
  • ⚡ Propietary: proprietary connectors (for example, some Epsonwill require an original cable.
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If the printer is not detected, try using passive USB hub with external power. This helps if there is not enough power in the smartphone port to initialize the device.

3. Setting up Android to print via USB

Even if the cable is connected correctly, the system may not recognize the printer. Here are step-by-step guide for setting it up:

Enable developer mode (click 7 times on Number assembly in Settings → About phone)

Activate USB debugging in Settings → System → For developers

Install a printing application (for example PrintHand or Canon PRINT)

Connect a printer after launching the application (not before!)

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If the printer still does not determined by:

  1. Go to Settings → Connected devices → USB.
  2. Select mode File transfer (MTP) or PTP (for photos).
  3. In some cases, the mode helps Charging only with subsequent reconnection.

Critical detail: printers HP often require installation of a proprietary plugin HP Print Service Plugin from Google Play. Without it, printing via USB is impossible, even if the device is defined as “unknown.”

4. The best applications for printing from Android via USB

Standard Print Service from Google does not support all printers. We tested 7 popular applications and selected the top 3:

Application Supported printers Features Cons
PrintHand Mobile Print HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Samsung Works without root, supports PDF/DOC/XLS Advertising in the free version
Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY Printer only Canon Optimized for inkjet and portable models Does not support laser printers
HP Smart Printer only HP Scanner and copier in one application Requires HP account registration

For universal printing, we recommend PrintHand —it supports even outdated models via manual installation of drivers. If you have a printer Epson, try Epson iPrint, but be prepared for bugs when connecting via USB (usually works via Wi-Fi).

How to install the driver manually?

1. Download the driver for your printer model from the official website (section Support → Drivers).

2. Unzip the archive and find the file with the extension .ppd or .inf.

3. In the application PrintHand select Add a printer → Install the driver manually and specify the path to file.

4. Restart your smartphone and try connecting again.

5. Solving common errors

If the printer is connected, but printing does not start, check the following points:

  • 🔌 "The device is not recognized": try a different cable or adapter. Cheap OTG cables often do not support data transfer.
  • 📄 "The document is in the queue, but is not printed": clear the print queue in the application and restart the print service (Settings → Applications → Print Spooler → Stop).
  • ⚙️ "There is no suitable driver": install a plug-in from the printer manufacturer (for example, Epson Print Enabler).
  • 🔋 "Insufficient power": connect the printer to a power outlet or use a powered USB hub.

Printers Brother have an error "Unable to communicate with the printer". Solution:

  1. Disconnect the printer from the network.
  2. Hold the button Go (or Cancel) 10 seconds to reset.
  3. Connect the USB cable after turning on the printer.
⚠️ Attention: On Android 12+ Access to USB devices may be blocked due to new security rules. To unlock, go to Settings → Privacy → Special access → Access USB and allow access for your printing application.

6. Alternative methods of printing without USB

If connecting via USB fails, consider alternatives:

  • 📶 Wi-Fi Direct: most modern printers (HP Envy, Canon PIXMA TR) support direct connection to a smartphone without a router. Enabled in the printer menu (Settings → Wireless network → Wi-Fi Direct).
  • 🖥️ Sharing via PC: connect the printer to the computer, turn on Sharing v Control Panel → Devices and Printers, then add it on your smartphone via IP address.
  • ☁️ Cloud printing: services like Google Cloud Print (outdated) or HP ePrint allow you to send documents by email. The printer must have the function Email Print.

For older printers without Wi-Fi, suitable Bluetooth adapter (for example, TP-Link UB400). It connects to the printer's USB port and creates a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone. Minus - low data transfer speed (suitable only for text).

7. Printing specific formats: PDF, Excel, photos

Not all applications work equally well with different file types. Here's what you need to know:

File type Recommended application Features
PDF Adobe Acrobat Reader + PrintHand Supports printing with bookmarks and bookmarks
DOC/XLS Microsoft Office or WPS Office In WPS Office there is a built-in printing module
Photos (JPG/PNG) Google Photos or Canon PRINT In Google Photos you can adjust the size and quality
RAW (photo) Lightroom Mobile + PrintHand Requires conversion to JPG/TIFF before printing

For printing Excel-tables with formulas use Microsoft Excel —it correctly processes cells with calculations. If you need to print web page, save it in PDF via the browser (Chrome → Print → Save as PDF), then send it to print.

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To print photos without losing quality, select a resolution of at least 300 dpi in the printer settings. Otherwise, the image will be pixelated.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about printing from Android via USB

My printer connects, but printing starts and stops immediately. What is the problem?

This is a typical error when there is insufficient printer memory. Try:

  1. Reduce DPI in the print settings (for example, from 600 to 300).
  2. Split the document into parts (print 5-10 pages at a time).
  3. Update the printer firmware via PC.

If the problem persists, reset the printer settings to factory settings (Menu → Setup → Reset).

Is it possible to print from Android to a printer via USB without applications?

Technically yes, but only if:

  • Your printer supports the protocol PTP/MTP (for example, Canon Selphy).
  • The system has native driver for the model (rare for Android).
  • You are using Android 10+ with support USB Host Mode.

In other cases, you can't do without an application - Android does not have built-in drivers for most printers.

Why is the printer detected as an "unknown device"?

This means that:

  1. There is no driver for your model.
  2. Cable or the adapter does not support data transfer (charging only).
  3. The printer is blocked by the manufacturer for direct connection (relevant for Xerox and some Brother).

Solution: install a proprietary application from the printer manufacturer or use PrintHand with manual driver installation.

How to print from Android to an old printer (before 2010)?

For outdated models (HP LaserJet 1020, Epson Stylus C46) you will need:

  • 🖥️ Connect the printer to the PC and configure sharing.
  • 📱 Use the application on your smartphone PrinterShare with the option Remote Printing.
  • 🔌 Buy Bluetooth adapter for the printer (if there is a port USB-B).

Direct printing via USB is unlikely - older printers do not support modern protocols.

Is it possible to print from Android to a 3D printer via USB?

Yes, but only using specialized applications:

  • PrusaSlicer + OctoPrint (requires a server on a PC or Raspberry Pi).
  • MatterControl (supports direct connection to some models).

Regular printing applications (like PrintHand) do not work with 3D printers - they use other protocols (G-code instead PCL/PostScript).